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DENGVAXIA, a new vaccine against dengue, is still on its experimental stages with unknown downsides or negative side effects yet it was recklessly used in the Philippines. It is not a surprise therefore that many children died as a result of its use.

It is the position of Freeblance that those responsible for the reckless, negligent and imprudent use of Dengvaxia be duly prosecuted and punished.

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The chilly relations between South and North Korea is thawing giving rise to hope that both sides of the Korean peninsula will be reunited. It will be recalled that the Korean peninsula was divided into the capitalist south and communist north after World War II. The division came into the fore during the 1950-53 Korean war where the United States and its South Korean ally fought the North Koreans and the Chinese. The war ended in a truce at Panmunjom.

Despite the recent nuclear missiles crisis and other security issues that have evenly frozen relations between Pyongyang and Seoul, and the coldest point of the year which “really iced” the Pyeongchang Winter Sports Olympics 2018 (Feb. 9-25); the bitter cold ironically unified the divided peninsulares into one Olympic team. That’s nice.

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The 160-year old mystery of the 18 apparitions of Mary, the mother of God, by the pristine stream of the Pyrenees mountains in Lourdes, France recently exacted its 70th miracle in the person of 69-year old nun Sister Bernadette Mariau, who was finally cured of her barely five decades of painful sciatica or pinched spiral nerve.

Sister Bernadette is a namesake of St. Bernadette Soubirous, who was then a 14-year old peasant when the Blessed Virgin, who is one of the Roman Catholic’s central blessed figure, appeared to her in a cave at Lourdes. Their common denominators are being nun and Bernadette. Their difference is time, if not age (the saint died young at 35) or hometown (the saint is from southern France and the 70th Our Lady of Lourdes’ miracle recipient is from northern France). AMEN.

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Freeblance congratulates Beyond Deadlines for its 2nd anniversary.

A melting-point of Cyber Era minds of the 21st century, Freeblance remembers the long missed Between Deadlines of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, then the Philippines number one paper. Between Deadlines, a hard-hitting column run by its news reporters/correspondents in the late 1980s till early 1990s, run at a time when information is a dangerous thing to let go.

Between Deadlines enticed and motivated Freeblance to channel its free thoughts and balanced perspectives to Beyond Deadlines.

Keep posting and reading Beyond Deadlines…Bravo Beyond Deadlines!!!

* The opinion of this author is his/hers alone. It is not necessarily the views of Beyond Deadlines.

THE “Nuke War’ scare has again hit the Asia-Pacific region and the United States after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un threatened to “unleash” its Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles near the US territory of Guam.

To avoid a nuke war, Kim must be calmed by stopping the Pyongyang aimed joint US and South Korean military exercises. Without this major provocation, Kim is just an ordinary international criminal or bully.

Whether the international community likes it or not, North Korea is in a military stalemate with the US and its South Korean proxy. Through this status, it earned the right to demand an end to the provocation. Had it actually lost the Korean war, it will not be in a position to make any demands today.

North Korea, it also must be noted, is in a position to bring nuclear Armageddon to the world with the slightest US/South Korean provocation. Believe me, there will be no victors should a nuclear war breaks out in the Korean peninsula.

Thank God, Kim Jong-un did not test his missiles near Guam thus war in the Korean peninsula is averted, at least for the moment.

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Marawi is still in hell as ISIS linked Maute terrorists are still laying siege on that predominantly Muslim city. Hopefully, Marawi will soon be liberated and the Mindanao State University, the city’s pride, will resume normal operations.

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The “Avian flu” scare in Luzon prevented some 300 soldiers of the Philippine Army from being sent to Marawi City as they were deployed in Central Luzon to help contain the bird flu-infestation.

But there is no need to worry as Avian flu regularly comes and goes. It is part of our national life though we still need to pray that it does not affect us humans.

Let us remain strong and boost our immune system by living a green and healthy life.

By the way, there is no need to fear the fried chicken as the avian flu virus easily dies when its host dies. Just be aware that eating chicken and unlimited rice could be bad if you have diabetes.

* The opinion of this author is his/hers alone. It is not necessarily the views of Beyond Deadlines.

SAVING innocent people in the war zones of Marawi City is next to impossible but miracles happen even during these perilous times when Islamist groups like Maute and Abu Sayyaf are in control of some parts of the scenic Muslim dominated city by the shores of Lake Lanao.

The rescue of Geraldine, the 32-year old beloved wife of ex-Philippine Coast Guard personnel Saipoding Mariga, is among the many miracles that happen daily in Marawi. Saipoding couldn’t believe himself when he saw his wife alive, albeit wounded, while on her way to a nearby hospital on an ambulance stretcher.

The 45-year old Saipoding, who maintains a buy and sell stall in his home in Paco, Manila; immediately went to Marawi after learning of the Maute siege with the intention of bringing his wife and seven children to safety.

Moro Islamic Liberation Front volunteers were able to pluck all of his children from danger and brought them to a safe place but failed to rescue the already wounded Geraldine as she could no longer move inside the family home along Lucman Street. It was the members of the Philippine Army Scout Rangers (Musang) and a few volunteers who were able to do so amid the hail of gunfire.

FREEBLANCE first met Saipoding on June 4 (the 13th day of the siege) while he was desperately looking for someone to help him rescue his wife.

“Rescuers and government authorities no longer want to listen to me. I want to rescue her (Geraldine) even if I am alone, even if no one will accompany me,” Saipoding said.

Nevertheless, it was the succeeding efforts of FREEBLANCE that led Saipoding to the right people and the eventual rescue of Geraldine.

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The 60-day Martial Law in Mindanao to defeat Maute-ISIS-linked terrorists and to end Marawi war is okay. In fact even the Supreme Court says so.

FREEBLANCE, however, believe that it is necessary to extend its duration to wipe out, if not neutralize, ISIS terrorists in Mindanao. It is also necessary for the execution of the “marshall plan” to rebuild Marawi and help its war-battered people.

Extending martial law is okay but not for five years or the remaining duration of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term as suggested by some. That will not just fly.

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The ISIS’ Mosul lair in Iraq where 45-year old Islamist Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed a Caliphate in 2014 signals the end of his terrorist group, which gained fame because of its asymmetric military tactics, brutality and land grabbing. Al-Baghdadi is also believed to have been killed in a recent Russian airstrike.

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North Korea’s to have the capability to strike the United States mainland with nuclear missiles, despite being unproven, is alarming. Let us pray that the North Korean leader is just bluffing and that he will never be insane to launch a nuclear war that will be catastrophic for all.

ABU Sayyaf’s landings and planned operations in Bohol, a Catholic dominated and culture-rich island province of the central Philippines, apparently signals the start of the bandits desecration of Christian sites in the Philippines similar to what the terrorist group ISIS did in sacred sites in Syria.

Was the marriage of a recently slain suspected Abu Sayyaf member to a ranking police official part of the group’s effort to gain a foothold in Christian dominated areas and “desecration” of the Philippine National Police? The police official, who is now in custody, reportedly gave aid to her alleged terrorist husband.

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Philippine security experts doubt that ISIS, despite its claim, is behind the recent bombing in Quiapo, Manila which left several people injured. They said ISIS is in the habit of claiming violent acts to project power and influence.

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There is nothing wrong with President Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged “breaching” of our traditional alliance with our former colonial masters, the US through our establishment of friendly relations with Russia and China. Former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos, a well-known US ally and a West Pointer, does not see anything wrong with Pres. Duterte’s friendship with former communist Russia and socialist China provided that our self-professed socialist president respects the United Nations.

This is so because Russia and China are now the world’s big market economies. They are now capitalist states like the US.

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The Association of Southeast Asian Nations 30th summit in Manila over the weekend proved to be a five-star public relations gathering of ASEAN member states heads and a reiteration of its traditional policy of “non-interference” which was meant to preserve camaraderie and cooperation among member states.

Due to the non-interference policy, rifts caused by divisive issues like territorial disputes in the South China Sea and alleged human rights violations were avoided.

Well and good. ASEAN life goes on paving the way for better trading relations between the Philippines and other ASEAN member states.

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The brewing tension in the Korean peninsula is a powder keg waiting to be struck by lightning. The peninsula is on the verge of a nuclear war which could be started should Kim Jong-un unleash his nuclear tipped missles on the US submarine and aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson that are assembled off the coast of Korea.

Pyongyang is technically still at war with Seoul and Washington and their allies since the 1953 Panmunjom Truce only temporarily halted the Korean War.

Let us all pray for the Nokor leader not to end our world.

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Freeblance congratulates Filipina triathlete silver medalist of Singapore 2016 SEA Games’ Triathlon event Kim Mangrobang for making it again as part of the Philippine national triathlon team that will compete in 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this August.

She recently qualified in time trial after bagging hard earned fifth place in women’s elite division of the Subic International Triathlon (SuBIT) over the weekend.

* The opinion of this author is his/hers alone. It is not necessarily the views of Beyond Deadlines.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s cancellation of the government’s peace talks with communist rebels and his declaration of an all out war against the New People’s Army surprised both his allies and foe alike. The president cited the loss of trust as basis of his decision following the death of three soldiers in an NPA ambush in Bukidnon.

Sentaor Panfilo Lacson said National Democratic Front (NDF) seems to have lost control of communist guerrillas in the field. I think he is correct. It seems that the red fighters in Mindanao, under the maverick Jorge Madlos, does not want the peace talks.

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The kidnap for ransom and slaying of South Korean Jee Ick Joo or his freedom is already a heinous crime but what made it more appalling is that policemen seems to be behind it all.

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The holding of the 65th Miss Universe in the country amidst the controversy being generated by the reported extra-judicial killings of suspected illegal drug dealers and dependents is a victory for the Filipino nation.

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Good relations between the US, on the one hand, and Japan, Canada and Israel on another; was restored following the meeting in the White House of US President Donald Trump with Japan’s Shinzo Abe, Canada’s Justin Trudeau, and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu.

Among the three world leaders met by Trump, Freeblance observed that Trudeau was the least happy because of the US leader’s hardline stance against immigrants and his not-so-pro-women viewpoints.

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PH environment and natural resources Secretary Gina Lopez’s order to cancel the operating permit of 75 mining firms is actually not unexpected since she is an environment activist concerned with the massive environmental destruction caused by mining.

Nevertheless, Freeblance thinks that Pres. Duterte’s decision to give procedural leeways to mining firms whose errors could be “forgiven” is correct since the Philippines will lose some P70 billion from the closure of all 75 mining firms.

Sec. Lopez’ proactive decision should prod the government to promote recycling, especially of all recyclable metals and minerals, to make up for the loss income brought about by the closure of some mining firms.

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After experiencing a severe cold front last February, we very well expect a severe heat wave this coming months. Why? Because we have denuded our forest, paved our roads with concrete and build high rises also with concrete, steel, aluminum and glass, all of which aggravate either the cold front or the heat wave.

Happy days in the beaches, mountain resorts and springs are here again.

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By the way, belated Happy Valentine’s Day to all and I salute Beyond Deadlines for its 1st year anniversary on February 24. More power beyond many years to come.

* The opinion of this author is his/hers alone. It is not necessarily the views of Beyond Deadlines.

THE Philippine Professional Regulation Commission said 605 out of 1,150 passed the December 2016 written phase and 609 out of 613 passed the practical phase of the Dental Licensure examination administered by its Board of Dentistry in Manila.

THE Philippines is known for its world class beauties like the current Miss Universe 2016 Pia Wurtzbach, 2013 Miss World Megan Young and so many others thus our hosting next year (the country’s third time) of the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant, the most prestigious beauty contest of the world, is another opportunity to highlight what is beautiful in us.

It is a much needed respite from all the negative news caused by the rampant murder of suspected drug dependents and dealers in our country due to the government’s iron fist approach in tackling the drug problem.

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President Rodrigo Duterte’s health is taking a heavy toll since he assumed the presidency in June. If reports are true, the president now regularly takes medications for persistent bouts of migraine. He is also undergoing some sort of preventive therapy.

Yet despite his condition, the President is still very active. In fact, he just recently visited Cambodia and Singapore to explain his foreign policy and forge a strong alliance with the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China and Russia.

This alliance that the president is forging will shield the country like a wall from the fallout of its pivot from the west to the east especially now that the United States withheld economic assistance to the country because of alleged human rights violations being committed by the Duterte administration.

The President is aware of his health condition and thus floated the idea that he might not be able to finish his term in 2022. Nevertheless, Freeblance is of the opinion, however, that the President might not finish his term not because of health issues but rather due to the satisfaction that he already completed the tasks he set for himself like the creation of a Philippine federal state.

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President Duterte has a + 63% net satisfaction rating in October so he still has the number to withstand any impeachment try even if he admitted killing criminals in Davao City when he was still the mayor there.

Duterte is an asymmetrical leader who constantly shock traditional leaders, the so-called modest and decent elites, and the middle class. He is perceived to be pro-poor and has the support of a substantial number of “asymmetrical millennials.”

Impeachment is purely a political process even if it makes use of judicial procedures. Being a political process, it is based on numbers and popularity that to even try to impeach Duterte is an exercise in futility.

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Duterte and Trump have many things in common. They are both witty and asymmetrical in their approach to existing problems. They also both like Russia even if the western Mainstream Media is accusing it of meddling in U.S. elections..

The difference between them is that President Duterte wants a close relationship with China while President Trump wanted to break the long standing “One China policy” of the U.S. in favor of Taiwan. For now, the only thing we can do is observe and see what happens. There are some indications, however, that the coming year of the Rooster will usher a rocky relationship between the U.S. and China.

Consider this opening salvo – China recently confiscated an underwater drone of the U.S. near our very own Zambales province but within the disputed area that China claims. According to the Chinese, the Americans are using the drone to spy on them. Nevertheless, they decided to return the confiscated drone to the U.S. Trump, for his part, said the Chinese could keep the drone.

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Syria is set to be free of terrorist sooner or later. It’s second biggest city, Aleppo, which is near its northern neighbor Turkey; has just been liberated by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with the help of the Russian air force and Iranian special forces.

This writer visited Damascus in 2003 as a point of entry in covering the Iraq war. Now this writer wants to return but the problem now is how to do it.

Syria is part of the Holy Land encompassing great legendary Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which flows through the lost Paradise of Eden. Unfortunately, it is now a virtual hell and a ghost place. It has been reduced to ruins courtesy of western backed terrorists.

Please pray for Syria and help Syrian refugees.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL READERS OF Beyond Deadlines and Freeblance. PEACE BE WITH YOU ALWAYS. GOD BLESS.

* The opinion of this author is his/hers alone. It is not necessarily the views of Beyond Deadlines.

DONALD Trump’s win in the United States presidential race, just like Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s victory in our own presidential contest, was unexpected.

A lot of Filipinos are worried because Trump’s win could lead to a number of closures of American owned call centers in Manila and Cebu and the deportation of undocumented Filipinos from the American mainland.

I just hope that Pres. Trump would go soft on Filipinos and reciprocate the friendly attitude of Pres. Duterte to him.

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Pres. Trump electoral victory and his friendliness towards Russia raised the hope of embattled Syrian President and Russian ally Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian leader believes that the US could now be an ally in the fight against terrorists in his war torn country.

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Whenever something unacceptable happens, I would either bike, run or swim long distances despite the excruciating, lung busting and heart damaging pain; until the unacceptable is accepted by my heart and soul.

Fresh from a deep gloom due to the recent death of my elder sister-friend Carol and the anger caused by the surreptitious burial of former strongman Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, I decided to ride my bike from Urdaneta, Pangasinan to Burgos, Ilocos Norte, which is about 400 kilomters, to “de-stress” and contemplate about the recent events in my life. While generally alone in my four-day ride and as I de-stress, I met a skillful mountain biker from Vigan. We met in the coastal town of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur and rode together until Vigan City.

My ride north is punctuated with tense or blood curling moments as several times I was nearly sideswiped by reckless drivers speeding along the National Highway. Anyway, they did not stop me until I reached Cape Bojeador in Burgos town where I finally realized its time to stop. With a painful butt and a heavy backpack, I get off from my bike, knelt and tearfully shouted “I’m Free…It’s Done.” I prayed to God and thanked him for all his blessings.

I also would like to thank my younger sister Eden, nephew LK “Lake” Gilbuena, Ms. Maricar Mendoza-Gaspar, bike mechanics Ka Jonard of San Pedro City and Omar Bandong of Mangaldan, Pangasinan, the Paradiso Resort, and Rizalina Santiago-Ponce of Ponce Del Mar Beach Resort whose valuable support enabled me to accomplish what I did. Thank you.

My special thanks goes to an honest taxi driver who returned to me my P500 which was tucked between the two P100 bill I used to pay for my fare.

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Marcos Nov. 18 burial was decidedly rushed. It angered a lot of people but I guess it no longer matters whether the government is in cahoots or not with the Marcos family on their decision to surreptitiously bury the late dictator. It is obvious that there is a need to do the burial without fanfare because of the expected protest actions and the disruption it would bring to the funeral ceremony.

Nevertheless, Freeblance is of the opinion that Pres. Duterte knew of the plan to have Marcos buried on Nov. 18. This is actually the reason why he threatened to suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus. The president knew that the move would ignite dissent and civil disobedience to could lead to his probable ouster.

Notice that the threat was timed with the announcement that the country had just become the fastest growing major Asian economy with a phenomenal GDP growth of 7.1% (higher than China’s 6.7%, Vietnam’s 6.4%, Indonesia’s 5%, and Malaysia’s 4.3%…India’s data is not yet available) during the year’s third quarter.

The announcement’s timing was obviously meant to quell any unfavorable attitude the people may have on Duterte and his administration because of Marcos’ sudden burial.

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Freeblance believes that the protest actions of anti-Marcos rallyists against the Duterte administration will be short lived because:

Duterte’s decolonization moves through the forging of alliance with China and Russia while maintaining tactical partnership with the US. The move has definitely appeased the leftist and other progressive sectors,

There is a lack of military support for a successful civilian-backed coup,

ALTHOUGH Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent declaration of Philippine separation from the United States and pivot to its rivals China and Russia appear to be official, it is not. It is a personal expression of what he wants until his official term ends in 2022.

Being just personal declaration of independence, it has no teeth.Meaning, any commitment the Philippine government has with the U.S. will continue, albeit perhaps toned down a little to accommodate the president’s nationalism.

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Pres. Duterte’s pacifism made China to allow Filipino fishermen to fish in the disputed Scarborough Shoal or Panatag Shoal. His visit to China and the agreement’s signed there virtually took away the reason for Beijing to saber rattle.

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Filipinos need not worry about President Duterte’s realignment of bilateral relations with neighboring China and Russia.

Reason – China and Russia – are no longer espousing communist/socialist ideals. Except for their sentimental retention of Mao Tse Tung, Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Che Guevarra, Joseph Stalin, and Fidel Castro in their pantheon of heroes, both countries are now dependent on the market economy, whether we like it or not.

Moreover,, Duterte’s ploy to verbally ally himself with China and Russia is an ingenious tactic that could allow him to finish his six-year term. This early, he is already expecting moves by U.S. lackeys to remove him from power.

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The recent cancellation by Japanese Emperor Akihito of his scheduled meeting with Pres. Duterte is because of a sudden death of the prince’s 100-year old uncle Prince Takihito Mikasa, youngest brother of WW2 Emperor Hirohito.

Mikasa, during his younger days, was a cavalry officer of the Japanese Imperial Army in China. He is said to have a soft heart for the Chinese.

Duterte was subtly reminded by Japanese leaders, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, not to be too close with Beijing, Japan’s traditional rival. He has no choice but to issue a statement of mutual agreement with Tokyo, which is consistent with U.S. interest in Asia.

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Congratulations to San Pedro City Mayor Lourdes S. Cataquiz for recently receiving from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) the much-coveted “Seal Award for Good Governance and Housekeeping of a Philippine city.”

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Deep condolences and heartfelt prayers to the bereaved families of well respected octogenarians, Rotarian rancher and agriculturist Guillermo A. Castasus and his first cousin, retired public school teacher Mrs. Dioscora Castasus-Amante, who both recently died in their native hometown San Pedro City, Laguna.

* The opinion of this author is his/hers alone. It is not necessarily the views of Beyond Deadlines.

PRESIDENT Duterte’s 16 million votes and his popularity especially among the millenials acted as a formidable mantle that shielded him from his outlandish behavior ranging from his colorful often toxic language, insensitive statement about the holocaust and Jews, his verbal assaults against Pope Francis, United States President Barack Obama, United Nations Chief Ban Ki Moon, the U.N. and the European Union.

Despite all this, and amidst the falling value of the peso, the president still garnered a +64 percent satisfaction rating during his first 100 days in office, which is actually very good according to the Social Weather Station.

All of this is because of the “Dirty Harry” attitude, which Pres. Duterte earned during his stint as Davao City mayor, his way of dressing, eating and talking; characteristics that thoroughly endeared him to the public, especially the common folks, that it now serves him as his political capital.

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Duterte’s war against illegal drugs, which earned him the condemnation of local and international human rights advocates, has indeed resulted in the killings of many suspected drug dealers. However, it also made our streets safer nowadays. It also led to the exposure of the involvement of a number of government personalities in the illegal drugs trade. So which is which that you prefer?

Let us not forget that what Pres. Duterte did in the past 100 days is negligible period compared to what he could do during the remainder of his six year term. A lot are still to come.

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President Duterte’s plan to have the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani could divide the country more than the current brouhaha over the alleged involvement of Senator Leila De Lima in the Muntinlupa drug trade. Just saying …

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Freeblance has noticed a parallelism between the Philippines and Cuba. Have you?

The Philippines, as a group of islands, is shaped like a lizard beside mainland China while Cuba looks like a dolphin that came from continental north America.

Manila and Havana both had a common denominator, the Spanish-American War which ushered in the emergence of the U.S. as world superpower at the turn of the 20th century.

Cuba, however, now distinctly prided itself as a former Spanish colony and American protectorate. It gained its independence from the U.S. by really acting like a slippery wise dolphin when in 1959, Fidel Castro staged a revolution that ousted the American puppet Fulgencio Batista. Castro later aligned himself with the communist Soviet Union.

Now the question that remains is Manila can duplicate Cuba’s tactic and end our dependency to the U.S.? Can we be as slippery as a lizard and escape Washington’s clutches? Can we be both pro-Russian and Chinese at the same time? Perhaps only Pres. Duterte could tell.

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Pres. Duterte and US Republican presidential bet Donald Trump have something in common too. They have acid tongues and both are friendly to Russia.

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Freeblance condoles with Carlos de Guzman of the SwimBikeRun PHILIPPINES for the untimely death of his father, Mr. Carlito de Guzman, who peacefully joined our Creator on October 8, 2016.

Our heartfelt prayers.

* The opinion of this author is his/hers alone. It is not necessarily the views of Beyond Deadlines.

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte’s apparent anti-US stance is a tactical move to ensure the success of the government’s on-going peace talks with Muslim secessionists and communist rebels.

Despite Duterte’s harsh words for American President Barack Obama and his friendly overtures with Beijing and Moscow, Manila is still a friend to Washington. Duterte, by playing the super powers, is showing the world that he is shrewd and just walking the walk, and talking the talk of a tough guy which he is known for since his mayor days in Davao City.

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Duterte’s tough guy image, especially his stance against illegal drugs, has gained international notoriety to the point that United Nation’s Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, several European Union leaders and international human rights advocate condemned his alleged human rights violations. Perhaps this is the downside of Duterte’s image.

With the barrage of unpleasant commentaries and growing list of powerful enemies, even Pres. Duterte is doubtful if he would even finish his six-year term.Nevertheless, he is asking for another six more months on top of the six he earlier asked for to crush the drug menace in the country.

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Before President Duterte’s surprising presidential win, obtained mostly with the so-called millennial votes (voters are born between 1982-1998), his being a “Punisher” and the alleged killing fields in Davao City area are well known. Yet, inspite of these and the lack of support from mainstream elite families, he won.

Freeblance and other analysts believed that the demolition jobs against the president is no longer appropriate since the people have already spoken. They already made their choice by electing the president.

Unless conditions similar to the martial law days are present, the president must be allowed to finish his term for that is the essence of democracy — respecting the people’s will. Ousting the president from power without any valid reason would only validate claims that we Filipinos are afflicted with “crab mentality.”

People Power 1, which decisively ousted former president and strongman Ferdinand Marcos, is already a Filipino legacy known to the whole world. Let us remember and treasure it always.

RIO Olympics, the world’s 31st Olympiad, left a legacy of being the first to be held in a Portuguese speaking Latin American country amidst an outbreak of the deadly Zika virus.

The games was also marred by a local pollution issue and alleged doping of Rusian athletes. It was also where the United States earned its 1,000th gold medal, courtesy of Michael Phelps, the most decorated living Olympian who won in five Olympics 28 medals, including 23 golds – five of which from the recently concluded Rio Olympics.

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Based on the medal tally, it appears that the Summer Olympics, which was inspired by the sports fest of ancient Greece; reflects the geopolitical reality of the world. Notice that it was respectively the United States, United Kingdom and China which garnered the most medals mirroring their super power status.

Sadly, the Philippines, since the first time it joined the Paris Olympics 92 years ago as a colony of the United States, the first and only Southeast Asian country to do so then; is still wanting of a gold medal. To date, since 1924, Filipino Olympians only garnered a total of 10 medals (8 bronzes and 2 silvers). Thanks to weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and boxer Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco we had our silver medals from Rio and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Fortunately for us, our Southeast Asian brothers from Singapore and Vietnam each garnered their first Olympic gold. Kudos to you folks. A congratulations is also in order for our Brazilian host as they earned seven gold medals.

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President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s all-out war on drugs, though marred with allegations of human rights violations, showed the world that he has political will to push through with his project. Some analysts said the likes of Duterte comes only once in every 100 years.

After centuries of elitist rule of the Manila-centered republic, Freeblance could only cite two individuals who have shown such tenacity, the strongman Ferdinand Marcos and the rugged Rodrgo Duterte.

To the shock of the elites, the foul mouthed prosecutor from Davao City won decisively in the recent elections. He won with only a platform promising to end the illicit drug trade, which he considered to be the enemy of Filipinos, now and in the future.

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United States Republican Party presidential bet Donald Trump has softened his anti-immigrant rhetorics. Reason: He is out to woo immigrant votes whom he initially turned away with his offending hard line and racists stance. Let us see then what will happen in November U.S. elections.

* The opinion of this author is his/hers alone. It is not necessarily the views of Beyond Deadlines.